Environment and Nature Learning Week 2025

The Asia and the Pacific is facing the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change that require integrated solutions. As a flagship activity under the Environment Community of Practice, this event aimed to support the implementation of ADB’s Environment Action Plan 2024-2030 (EAP) that was approved in 2024. The event promoted implementation of the EAP priority pillars of (i) biodiversity and ecosystem management, (ii) pollution control and circular economy, and (iii) nature-based climate solutions.

Immanuel “Erick” E. Sarut

Erick Sarut serves as Senior Climate Change Officer at ADB’s Port Moresby Resident Mission, where he leads strategic engagement on climate resilience, adaptation financing, and institutional capacity building in Papua New Guinea. Prior to joining ADB, Erick worked for over 12 years with the Government of Papua New Guinea through the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA). His tenure at CCDA involved leading and supporting a wide range of national and regional climate initiatives, including policy development, program implementation, and multilateral negotiations.

Lukas Rüttinger

Lukas Rüttinger is a Senior Advisor at adelphi with over 14 years of expertise at the intersection of climate change, environment, conflict and fragility. As a pioneer in climate-security risk assessment, he has developed innovative approaches spanning global, regional and local scales for leading organisations including the UN, OSCE, European Commission, and African Union.

Enrique Tolentino, Jr.

Enrique Tolentino Jr. is a professor of forest restoration and plantation forestry in the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños for the last 34 years. His research works and interests covers restoration of degraded lands, forest plantations, forest genetic resource conservation, tree improvement, tree seed technology, and forest nursery.

Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism

The presentation summarized the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM), which was established in 2014 to provide grants for deploying advanced low-carbon technologies in ADB-financed projects under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). It outlined eligibility criteria, funding schemes, and JCM requirements, and showcased case studies from Maldives and Kyrgyz Republic demonstrating reduced GHG emissions, improved air quality, and socio-economic benefits. The portfolio included projects totaling $67.68 million across Asia and the Pacific.

What is needed to address the financing gap for nature?

The presentation highlighted the large global financing gap for nature and showed how WWF and ADB had worked to mobilize funding for conservation. It outlined WWF’s strategy to finance green projects and align financial systems with global climate and nature goals, using examples from Borneo to demonstrate practical applications. It concluded that scaling nature investments required coordinated policies, stronger financial mechanisms, and mainstreaming natural capital in existing financial instruments.